Short Bio
Thom Pierce is a British photographer, born in 1978, currently living in Cape Town, South Africa. He gained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Plymouth University in 2002.
His work explores the lines between art, documentary and portrait photography to engage with issues of cultural, social and historical significance.
He is a recipient of the 2016 Piclet prize for contemporary African photography and the 2016 PDN storytellers award. His work has been published widely including features for The Guardian, The Independent and Vogue Italy. His photographs have featured heavily as part of several human rights campaigns. A collection of his work can be found in the permanent collection of the South African National Gallery.
Statement – The Horsemen of Semonkong
In the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, the region of Semonkong sits at 2,275 metres above sea level in the Drakensberg mountains. The area is made up of many small villages, most of which are inaccessible by car and nestled high up in the mountains without electricity and mains water. Travel time from these villages to Semonkong, the nearest town, can be up to 4 hours and so the journey is often taken by horse. The routes are also used by the younger herd boys who move their livestock between pastures, covering great distances on their daily work routine.
Over an eight day period in May 2016, Pierce journeyed up into the mountains, along the well trodden paths, to photograph the horsemen, herders and commuters of Semonkong.
Contact: thom@thompierce.com